Mumbai gunmen were 'British'

A National Security Guard commando rests after firing at suspected militants in Mumbai, India

Indian news channel NDTV said two suspected Islamic militants arrested by commandos were “British citizens of Pakistani origin”.

The gunmen were among eight captured after they launched co-ordinated attacks on 10 targets, including an orthodox Jewish centre, two hotels and the city's packed railway station on Wednesday.

Another 24 bodies were found today, taking the death toll to 143.

Prime Minister Gordon Brown said: “I would not want to be drawn into early conclusions about this.

“But obviously when you have terrorists operating in one country they may be getting support from another country or coming from another country and it is very important that we strengthen the co-operation between India and Britain in dealing with these instances of terrorist attacks.”

At the Oberoi Hotel today, at least 25 captives - including two Britons and another clutching a baby - were rushed out and loaded into waiting cars, buses and ambulances.

Commandos were continuing their search for attackers.

Even after claims by Indian authorities that the situation was under control, explosions were still being heard in central Mumbai.

Mr Brown said that as far as the Government was aware, there were no British hostages still being held in the Indian financial capital.

He added: “It is clear that we have got to help the Indian government deal with this terrorist incident and we have sent people from the Metropolitan Police to help.”

“This is an atrocious outbreak of violence planned in advance and I think we have got to look at how international action against terrorism can be improved over the next period of time.”

The Prime Minister said the British High Commissioner to India, Sir Richard Stagg, was trying to establish how many UK nationals had been injured in the attacks.